This past winter, multiple states in the U.S. were hit by extreme cold storms and were simultaneously experiencing power outages due to the higher-than-ever demand on the power grids. Hundreds of thousands of people were without power for days and were struggling to stay warm during the storm without the ability to turn on their heaters and other appliances. Now that summer is approaching, heat waves are likely in our near future. While it’s a good idea to reduce the risk of your home losing power with good sustainability and energy conservation practices, regional power outages can still be unavoidable….
What We Can Learn From the Greenest Countries in the World The EPI (Environmental Performance Index) is a Yale-conducted data-driven ranking of 180 different countries based on environmental health and ecosystem vitality. It’s essentially a numbered list of the most-to-least green countries. The most recent EPI list was released…
Temperatures outside are freezing and the power is out… Now what? By now, most of us have either heard about the winter storm that’s sweeping across the U.S., or are experiencing it firsthand. Times like this are a good reminder that we are not immune to…
With the world as we know it now starting to gradually open back up again, there are new standards going into effect to ensure the safety of the employees as well as customers, it is important that businesses comply in order to avoid any hefty fines. ASHRAE announced the new…
Spring is in the air and for most of us, that means things are starting to heating up! As the air outside gets hotter, so do our homes, and we begin running our AC’s more and more. Then our rising utility bills show up and after seeing how much our…
It’s no secret that one of the largest areas of growth in the tech industry is deploying and optimizing internet of things (IoT) devices. After smartphones conquered our pockets, the world’s most innovative companies are building intelligent devices — smart thermostats, speakers, plugs, security systems and more — to control…
Big box retailers spend a lot of time worrying about energy. They almost invariably have Energy Managers or Directors responsible for helping them to negotiate for and procure energy, as well as managing their sustainability and energy efficiency goals. For years big box retailers have recognized that solid energy management…
Restaurant owners are constantly looking for ways to cut costs and raise profit margins yet still provide the best service to their customers. With restaurants using up to 10 times more energy per square foot than any other commercial building, it can be extremely beneficial to cut that energy usage. …
Energy deregulation in California has been making waves since the 1990s. Competition has spurred California’s investor-owned utilities to offer new services that are attractive to existing customers as well as potential ones. A wide range of services is now available to help achieve energy efficiency in commercial buildings, including demand…
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a powerful tool for automating energy savings. Systems that were once separate, like lighting and HVAC, can now be linked through a series of smart devices that exchange information with one another. When hooked into a building energy management system, this stream of performance…
Operating a successful franchise is an all-consuming task. There are bills to pay, employees to manage, facilities to keep up, and customers to serve. Improving energy efficiency, monitoring, and control through a central software portal is often the last thing on a busy franchise owner’s mind. However, a good building…
While there are those of us that prefer six month winters packed with fluffy snow on the slopes, and others than opt for beach volleyball in an endless summer, we can all agree that high utility bills don’t crack our top one million on the list of favorites. Have you…
Hotels constantly seek new ways to make their guests more comfortable, incorporating amenities that increase comfort draws in new guests and keeps existing customers loyal to the brand. These range from major initiatives, such as opening a premier on-site spa, to smaller ones, like leaving a morsel of chocolate on…
Schools and all other types of learning centers require vast amounts of energy in order to operate efficiently. Keeping the lights on, air flowing, and providing appropriate ventilation adds up quick on the energy bill, and costs can reach absurd amounts if not kept in check. Keeping overhead low is…
For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, we have almost fully endured the frigid winter months that occupy our half of the Earth from December to March. During this time, many home and business owners turn up the heat to create a more pleasant temperature for occupants to enjoy. …
Over the course of just a decade, thermostats have evolved from the basic, manually adjusted models with limited capabilities to comprehensive energy management systems that occupy our walls today. These systems regulate the heating, cooling, and ventilation of our homes and businesses, and selecting the most well-equipped device is an important financial decision to keep overhead costs as low as possible.
It’s that time again! The Consumer Electronics Show is happening right now in Las Vegas, bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, and techies from across the globe to showcase the latest and greatest in consumer electronics. This is the show that gives the industry and the world a sneak peek into some…
IoT devices, lighting retrofits and energy management systems get a lot of the airtime when it comes to how to slash energy bills. However, there’s a high likelihood that you can also cut energy immediately with no outlay of cash or equipment installation. In fact, one of your biggest opportunities…
It’s relatively obvious that by putting your air conditioner on a restricted hours schedule using a smart thermostat, you’re saving power and consequently cutting your electricity bill, and that by using your facility heating unit less, your heating fuel bill will be reduced. However, integrating smart thermostats to conserve energy…
When it comes to using IoT devices to drive building and energy efficiency, homeowners are well ahead of the curve while business lag well behind. Where residential consumers have hopped on IoT technology to simplify their lives and reduce their overall energy bills, business customers just haven’t quite grasped the…
You probably already know that usage of your HVAC system is one of the largest contributors to your energy bills. But, did you know that properly maintaining your HVAC system can dramatically affect the efficiency of your system, and as such how much energy it takes to operate it? Failing…
Since the dawn of air conditioning itself, there has been a struggle over who gets to set the thermostat. Facilities managers would like the cooling system to come on just enough to kick the dust off the unit and ensure that it’s maintenance-free for the year. But for someone sitting…
It seems like a no-brainer, right? Controlling your energy costs would contribute to the business bottom line, prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your building systems, and would make you look like a superstar. So why hasn’t implementing an energy management system bubbled up to the top of your priority…
What are demand charges? Many utilities offer a rate plan that charges business in their service area ‘demand’ charges. Demand charges are intended to encourage you to spread out your electricity usage over time to prevent overall peaks in grid electricity demand. Demand charges are calculated during the period of…
It seems like a good idea. You have a smart thermostat in your home that helps you save energy, manage your heating and cooling, and even sets itself to optimize your energy usage. So it should be great in your business too, right? Unfortunately, this is not the case. Your…
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